One observer commented that trying to get 15 of Europe’s finest sailing scribblers and snappers together in one location was like trying to herd sheep, let alone to get them on board one of the ten yachts assigned to each one that were gathered in Port Vell in Barcelona for the final test sailing of the European Yacht of the Year. This morning, Wednesday 15 November, under yet another day of benign blue skies that task was achieved and here they all are, the Jury for the Awards representing top sailing magazines from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Spain.

After two days of testing and some unusually good breezes, today is the final day before the Jury retires for their deliberations. After an earlier test sail session in Holland in September a total of 20 shortlisted boats, listed below in their four categories, will have been exhaustively sailed, measured, photographed and inspected by each one of the Jury members in the most thorough process ever undertaken for any Yacht of the Year Awards. The final results, with a winner in each category, will be announced at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in January and the reports on all the winners will be published in the March issue of Yachting World.

Under 10m
Etap 28s
Beneteau First 34.7
Dufour 325 Grand Large
Elan 340
Hanse 315

10 – 12m
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS
C&C 115
Salona 37
Malo 37
Winner 10.10

12 – 14m
Dehler 44
Najad 440AC
Sun Odyssey 42DS
Grand Soleil 40
Maxi 1300

Over 14m
X-55
Hanse 630e
Beneteau First 50
Hallberg Rassy 54
Dufour 525